Keyboards for automatic composing machines



Aug. 2, 1960 G. P. BAFOUR ET L 2,947,357

KEYBOARDS FOR AUTOMATIC COMPOSING MACHINES Filed June l2, 1957 8Sheets-Sheet 1 N .mi

Aug. 2, 1960 G. P. BAFOUR ETAL 2,947,357

KEYBoARDs FOR AUTOMATIC coMPosING MACHINES med June 12, 1957 asheets-sheet 2 I /I f I I ug- 2, 1950 s. P. BAFouR ETAL 2,947,357

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KEYBoARDs FOR AUTOMATIC coMPosING MACHINES Filed June l2, 1957 8Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 2, 1960 G. P. BAFouR ETAL 2,947,357

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KEYBoARos FOR AUTOMATIC coMPosING MACHINES Filed June 12. 1957 8Sheets-Sheet 6 MN WAN k NA MNA vom m Aug- 2 1960 G. P. BAFOUR ErAL2,947,357

mYBoARDs FOR AUTOMATIC coMPosING MACHINES Filed June 12, 1957 8Sheets-Sheet 7 ffy. 6

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KEYBoARDs FOR AUTOMATIC coMPosING MACHINES Filed June 12, 1957 8S1'Leecs-Sheei*fl 8 KEYBOARDS FOR AUTOMATIC COMPOSING MACHINES GeorgesPierre Bafour, 27 Rue de la Convention, and Andr Ren Blanchard, 57 RueVercingetorix, both of Paris 15, France, and Franois Henri Raymond,Saint-Germain en Laye, France. (138 Blvd. de Verdun, Courbevoie, France)Filed June 12, 1957, Ser. No. 666,265

Claims priority, application France June 20, 1956 22 Claims. (Cl.164-112) The present invention relates to keyboards for automaticcomposing machines as used in automatic composing plants for printingtexts.

There are known composition systems for printing texts in which thetyping of the texts to be printed also serves for perforating orotherwise marking a band or tape or a recording medium which is laterused in a composing machine for printing these texts. Such a system isdescribed in our United States Patent No. 2,762,485 which claims thepriority of an application tiled in France on March 24, 1954.

One of the objects of the present invention is to make it possible touse for such typing of texts a typewriter preferably of the kind knownas electrical typewriter, the keyboard of which has been adapted to therequirement of automatic composing of texts. This is accomplished by theprovision thereon, in addition to a conventional keyboard, of one orseveral auxiliary keyboards with one or more sets of auxiliary keys inorder to increase the amount of information contained in the texts withadditional information elements, in particular with service informationused for the composition of texts.

Another object of the invention is to realize this increase in thecapacity of the keyboard, designed to make available a number `ofcharacters or signs much higher than that provided by the keys of anordinary typing machine, preferably without adding character bars andWithout increasing the dimensions of the set of characters of themachine.

According to a feature of the invention, there is associated with theaforementioned keyboards a recording device such as a perforator adaptedto mark a tape or recording medium according to a predetermined codecorresponding to the keys depressed on either the main keyboard or theso-called service keyboard, or in a set of additional keys, hereinaftertermed collateral keys, which serve to give a somewhat modiedsignificance to certain associated symbols of the main keyboard.

There is also provided in accordance with the invention a keyboardsystem adapted to control a recording mechanism such as a perforatorupon each depression of keys and also to cause the appearance on a sheetof paper, in a manner known per se, of the characters of signscorresponding to the types which have been depressed y States. PatentV Ci ce.

2,947,357 Patented Aug. '2, 1960 and registered. As, however, the numberof character bars is chosen preferably smaller than the number of keysof the keyboard, we prefer to provide, according to another feature ofthe invention, means to cause the cooperation with the said keyboard ofa device permitting to actuate a single character bar either with a key'of the collateral keyboard or with a key ofthe service keyboard as wellas a device permitting to characterize on the sheet of paper thecharacters and signs in a manner dependent upon the actuation of thecollateral keys or of the keys of the service keyboard.

According to another aspect of the invention, there are added to one or"the keyboards, e.g. the service keyboard, three keys entitledrespectively VLlower casef large capitals and small capitals, these keyscontrol by means of a shifting device the relative position of the setof characters and `of the carriage of the machine on the one hand, andby means of a selection device the selective characterization ofsubsequently actuated symbols, i.e. characters and signs, on the otherhand. The depression of the lower case keys will for example cause acertain relative positioning of two co-operating elements, namely thecarriage and the set of characterbearing members, whereas the depressionof either of the other keys (large capitals and small capitals willplace these elements in another predetermined relative position. Thedepression of any one of these keys will always cause a particularrelative positioning of the carrier and of the set of characters butthis relative positioning will subsequently be reversed in the case ofat least one of these keys, for example of the lower oase key, Vinresponse to a confirmation actuation resulting from the depression ofanother key of the keyboard, the arrangement thus being similar to thelocking or non-locking capital shift in an ordinary typewriter. If thecarriage is not to be locked in shifted position, the return of the keysto the rest position will preferably give rise to an unshift code or theoperator will have to actuate immediately the service keyscorresponding, to cancellation of shift.

The depression of any one of the three keys corresponding to theactuation of the device for the selective characterization ofsubsequently typed characters will, in a system incorporating featuresof the invention, results in a change of color of the typed character,as by the use of a multicolor ribbon adapted to be moved by theabovementioned device into positions of registry of differently coloredtracks or zones thereof with the type faces of the character bars and/orthe operation of auxiliary means which cooperate selectively with theribbon in order to modify the appearance of the later-typed characters,as by introducing gaps or additions which render perceptible thecategory of which they form part without materially impairing thelegibility of the character.. A means of characterizing the type otherthan by a change of color is for example the interposition of a gridbetween the paper and the character to be typed, said grid beingpositionable to avoid the printing of the whole outline of a characteron the paper or, conversely, to add marks to some parts of thecharacter.

According to another feature of the invention, the effects of thedepression of at least one of the three abovementioned keys for thecharacterization of the following signs or characters may beco-determined by the category of these signs or characters. For example,during a rst period which takes place at the same time as the depressionof any one of the three selector keys, the multicoloredl (c g.red-black-green-blue) ribbon is always raised into the red position andcomes back to a position selected for example as follows:

If the key depressed is a lower case key or a large capitals key, theribbon is brought to the black position (if not already in thatposition) or remains in that position when there is later depressed akey other than a collateral key of the main keyboard. If it is one ofthese .collateral'keys which is depressed, the ribbonmomentarilypresents its blue track but does not remain in that position. Y

If thekey depressed was a small capitals key, the ribbon is shifted topresent its green track and remains there up to the depression of eitherof the two other selector keys. It is no longer possible to use thecollateral keys of the main keyboard as long as the ribbon is in thegreen position.

. It should be understood that this example is given only by wayV ofillustration of the possibilities afforded from this point of view bythe present invention.

It should be noted that the typing of each one of the 'three selectorkeys, i.e. lower case key, large capitals key and small capitals key,will automatically cause the marking of a corresponding code onto thecode-recording meditun (eg. tape) of the machine.

According to another aspect of the invention and in association with thefeatures of the invention described above, there is provided Vmeans toinsure a systematic vcharacterization of the signs and characters inresponse to the depression of keys of the service keyboard distinct fromthe characterization given to these same signs and characters upon thedepression of keys of the main keyboard and also of the collateral keys.It will be remembered, however, that the distinctive characterizationidentifying these latter keys can be applied only to one character at atime and could not be maintained between two successive depressions ofthese keys. In the above example, there has been provided the red colorfor characterizing the signs and characters of the service keyboard, theblack and green colors being reserved for the inain keyboard as stated.

f To sum up, in a keyboard system according to the present invention theinterpretation to be given on the typographie proof to the various signsand characters is made a function of the particular characterization,the color for instance, with which they appear in the typed text. In thecoded recording, on the other hand, there is provided a distinct codefor each key except possibly certain cases such as the keys for the emand halfem (or en) spaces, each one of these special collateral keysoccurring twice on the keyboard. Each pair of ysuch doubled keys causesthe same numerical code on the recording medium but the depression ofone key, associated with a spacing bar, does not cause the appearance ofthe typed character on the proof whereas the depression of the other keycauses thereon the printing of a predetermined character but with thecharacterization of a collateral key, for example on the blue-coloredtrack in the example considered above. It is therefore possible Yat willto cause or not the appearance on the copy of a trace of a particularnature for the space or blank of the composition which has been typed.To facilitate the description of the invention, reference will now bemade to the accompanying, somewhat schematic drawing in which: I Fig. 1shows an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows details of a key of the keyboard;

Fig. 3 shows details of a character bar;

Fig. 4 shows details of the mechanism controlling the Verticaldisplacement of the vertically shiftable element of the machine, i.e.the carriage or the set of characters, in order to obtain the typing ofcapital or lower-case letters;

Fig. 5 shows details of the control for the vertical displacement of theribbon according to the wanted color or track of the ribbon;

Fig. 6 is a partial view of an embodiment of the coding device;

Fig. 7 shows an example of the arrangement of the keyboard systemestablished in accordance with features of the invention;

Fig. 8 shows an example of the distribution of electrical connections;

Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of a numbering line counter for identifyingthe typed lines; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a modification of a detail.

From these illustrations and from their descriptions it will be possibleto derive without further explanation any technological alternative forpracticing the invention and of course such alternatives andmodifications are within the scope of the present invention.

In Fig. l there is shown, schematically represented, an embodiment ofthe invention in which a bank of keys for operating a set ofV type faces401, carried on individual character bars 37 (Fig. 3) in the usualmanner, is divided into three parts, namely a main keyboard 500containing the usual alphabetical and numerical keys, a keyboard 600encompassing the collateral keys and a keyboard v700 consisting ofservice keys. In the latter there are indicated three subdivisionsconstituted respectively by the small capitals key 705, the largecapitals key 706 and the lower case key 707. There is also indicated at314 a control key for carriage return and for advance of the rollerwhich acts directly on a mechanism for controlling these eiects,indicated generally at 414.

The illustrated assembly of keyboards and character bars is adapted toproduce a typewritten copy of the codes entered on the recording mediumwhich is simultaneously recorded on a perforated tape 410 by means of aperforator 409 controlled by a coder 408. The coder is electricallyconnected to the keyboard by means of an electric distributor 214. Thecoded message and also the typed copy will comprise therefore the textto be printed and at the same time the service information concerningthis text. It will alsoV comprise, in the embodiment described, numeralscorresponding to each line of the typed copy. A numbering line counter11 is actuated by the advance movement of the roller 2011 and indicatesthe number of the line in a way that will be described later. Thecounter 11 is also connected by electric leads 211 to the distributor214 and will therefore act on the coder 408. It may be noted herethatthis distributor has four sets of leads. The first, 17, extends to theset of character bars bearing the type faces 401. The second, 18,terminates at the mechanism 12 for relative vertical movement betweenthe character bars and the carriage whereas the third, 19, leads towardthe mechanism 14 for shifting the colored track of the ribbon. Thefourth output lead 20 is connected to the coder 408. The roles of theseoutput leads will be explained later. l

The typewriter ribbon =13 comprises, in the illustrated embodiment,several tracks of various colors.' The vertical movement of thismulticolor ribbon, by which it is placed in front of a character to betyped, is controlled by the track-changing mechanism 14. This mechanismis controlled by means of the distributor 214, in response to theoperation of any of the keys of the main keyboard 500, the collateralkeyboard 600 and the service keyboard 700, in a manner to be describedAhereinafter.

AThe elevation of the type faces 401 to produce capital typewrittenletters is dependent on` the mechanism 12 actuated from the keyboardassembly by means of the distributor 214.

The assembly represented in Fig. l permits therefore to produce on theone hand a typed copy, the lines 301 of which are consecutivelynumbered, and on the other hand a perforated tape 410 comprising in codeform the infomation pertaining to the copy. Each of these recordscomprises not only the text to be printed but also the serviceinformation furnished through the service keyboard 700. On thetypewritten copy obtained, the text and the service information areinterlaced and the latter is distinguished from the text by itsdifferent appearance, in this case its distinct color.

This result may be obtained for example by means of the arrangementswhich will be now described.

Except for special cases to be explained later, each key 15 of thekeyboard assembly is associated with a pair of electric contacts 16which are closed by the depression of the key, see Fig. 2. The key 15 isdepressed against the action of a spring 215 `connected to ground. Oneof the contacts 16 is xed to the bar of key 15 by, for example,soldering or brazing, being thus grounded by the spring 2.*15. The otherContact 16 is resiliently supported by and in conductive contact with aspring 216 which is fixed and connected to a conductive support 218insulated from ground by means of an insulating member 217. Upon eachdepression of the key 15, therefore, electric ground is applied throughrespective rectifiers 219 to the four outgoing wires 17 to 20 which,multipled within the distributor 214 with corresponding wires from otherkeys, represent the aforedescribed output leads of the distributor asshown in Fig. 1.

A typical arrangement for controlling a character bar 37 is illustratedin Fig. 3. When the actuation of key 15, Fig. 2, has applied a ground tothe wire 17, this ground closes the circuit to a battery 340 through anelectromagnet 21 so that it will attract its armature 22 during the timethis Wire remains grounded. The armature or plunger 22 is connected to acrescentshaped abutment 23 which is momentarily rotated about a pivotagainst the action of a resetting spring 224. This temporary pivotingmovement of crescent 23 causes the actuation of the character bar 37 asfollows: a bar 24, adapted to `pivot upwardly from a substantiallyhorizontal position around a fulcrum 25 provided at one of itsextremities, rests normally with a contact portion 26 on the upper partof crescent 23. At its other extremity, adjacent portion 26, the bar 24is provided with a slightly reduced portion 27. In its center, the barhas a transverse pin projecting from it. A cam 29 is mounted freely onthis pin about which it may complete a whole revolution. In its restposition, the cam 29 is prevented from rotating by a stud 30 abuttingagainst the lower end of a tooth 31 of a comb which comprises as manyteeth as there exist mechanisms similar to the one presently described,i.e. as there are character bars to be actuated. As the crescent .23swings counterclockwise under the control of the electromagnet 21, itwithdraws its support from the contact portion 26 and the bar 24 dropsuntil the cam 29 cornes into contact with a rubber-rimmed roller 32rotating at constant speed about its axis 33. The roller is now free todrive the cam since stud 30 may pass under the tooth 31, this actionbeing promoted by the provision of a notched contour on at least a partof the cam, as shown. The cam is so shaped that the bar 24 will beraised progressively, thus permitting the crescent 23 to take up itsrest position under the action of its restoring spring 234 upondeenergization of magnet 21. After one revolution, cam 29 stops as stud30 again approaches the tooth 31. Meanwhile, the upward swing of bar 24has caused the clockwise rotation of a lever 34 about its axis 35, `thislever, by exerting traction on a rod 36, actuating the character bar 37which pivots about its axis 38, against the force of a spring 238, totype the desired character by striking the carriage 201 in the positionindicated in dotted lines. Toward the end of the revolution of cam 29,bar 24 returns to normal and bar 37 falls back to its Arest position.

A device for relatively shifting the type faces and the carriage to typeoptionally capital or small letters is schematically represented in Fig.4 which shows the mechanism 12 and its electrical control circuits. Theraising of the carriage is effected by an electromagnet 39 having oneterminal connected to battery 40 and the other terminal 4S to switchingrelays 44 and 47 arranged as follows: p

Three incoming terminals 41, 42 and 43 are provided. The terminal 41 isconnected to the distributor lead 18 to which are multipledcorresponding wires of all the keys of the service keyboard 700, withthe exception of keys 705, 706 and 707 thereof. The terminal 42 isconnected to the corresponding wire 18a of the lower case key 707. -Theterminal 43 is connected to the wire 1Sb of the small capitals key 705and to the wire 18C of the large capitals key 706 of the servicekeyboard.

The terminals 41 and 43 lead to the winding 45 of relay 44. The terminal43 is connected directly to the winding whose other terminal is tied'toa terminal 4S of the electromagnet 39. The circuit of terminal 41extends through an armature 49 of relay 44, and its back contact to theterminal 48. The armature 49 is mechanically coupled with a groundedsecond armature 50 of the same relay. The front contact of the armature50 is connected to the armature 51 of relay 47' whose winding 46 has oneof its terminals connected to terminal 42 and the other to terminal 48.The back contact of armature 51 is connected to terminal 43. Thearmatures 49, 50 of relay 44 and the armature 51 of relay 47 areprovided with respective resetting springs 249 and 251.

The operation of the device is as follows:

If an impulse originates from any of the keys of the service keyboard700 other than the keys 705, 706 and 707, the System is actuated throughterminal 41. Armature 49 being on its back contact, the electromagnet 39is energized and the carriage is lifted with respect to the set of typefaces. The service signal corresponding t0 the depressed key isimpressed as a capital letter. As soon as the impulse ceas, theelectromagnet 39 is no longer energized and the element controlled byit, be it the carriage or the set of type faces, returns into theposition lower case.

If an actuating impulse arrives from lower case key 707, it reachesterminal 42 and energizes the electromagnet 39 through the winding 46;lthe sign chosen to denote lower case is impressed as a capital letter.Simultaneously, the front contact of armature 51 is opened, thuspreventing any spurious switching operation. AS soon as the impulse hasceased, the electromagnet 39 is no longer energized and theabove-mentioned controlled element comes back into the lower caseposition as required.

If an impulse originates from either key 705 (srnall capitals) or key706 (large capitals), it reaches relay 44 through terminal 43. Theelectromagnet 39 is again energized, this time through Winding 45, sothat the chosen sign denoting small capitals or large capitals,respectively, is impressed in capital letters. ln this operation,however, a supplementary function is accomplished. The winding 45 beingenergized, the back contact of armature 49 is opened whereas the frontcontact of armature 50 is closed. The front contact of armature 51remaining closed, the winding 45 is connected to ground through thearmatures 50 and 51 in series. Since terminal 43 is constantly connectedto the supply source 40 through electromagnet 39, the latter and thewinding 45 remain continuously energized. Accordingly, the controlledelement, that is the carriage or the set of type 7 faces, will nowremain indefinitely in the position capital letters.

If, while this condition prevails, one depresses any key of the servicekeyboard other than the lower case key 707, no change in the circuit ofFig. 4 occurs as the corresponding impulse arrives either at terminal43, thus producing no new effect since relay 44'is locked energized, orat terminal 41, this being equally ineffectual since the contact ofarmature 49 is opened.

If, on the other hand, lower case key 707 is depressed at this time, animpulse arrives through terminal 42. This impulse has the effect ofopening the contact of Aarmature 51 through the energization of winding46. Now the winding 45 has its circuit interrupted so that, in turn,armature 50 opens its contact, armature 49 makes ,and the system returnsto its rest position. Besides, the impulse received at 42 also energizesthe electromagnet 39 so that the sign lower case is correctly impressedin capital letters. It is only afterwards that the carriage or the setof type faces comes back into the position lower case where itsubsequently remains for an indefinite period.V

A device for effecting a shift of the multicolored ribbon 13 during thetyping of characters is shown schematically by way of a non-limitingexample in Fig. 5.

A ribbon-carrying member 52 is shaped, `at its upper part, into a comb53 into which is threaded the multicolored ribbon 13 (not shown in Fig.5) which, as illust-rated in Fig. 1, comprises for instance four tracks,respectively black, green, blue and red, staggered from the upper to thelower part of the ribbon.

The base of member 52 is shaped to present three slopes 54, 55 and 56 ofequal widths and of progressively increasing steepness. The member 52rests, through the intermediary of three wedges 59, 60 and 61, ori amobile support 57 actuated by a rod 58. The rod 58 is moved by aconventional mechanism for raising the ribbon of a typewriter onlyduring actuation of a character bar, thus affording `an unobstructedview of the typed text at all other times.

Each of the wedges 59, 60 and 61 has a horizontal base surface slidablyresting on the upper surface of the support 57. Each one is urgedrearwardly by a respective spring 62 (only one shown) into a position inwhich the lowest part of its sloping upper surface contacts thecorresponding bottom slope of member 52. In this condition, the member52 is in its lowermost position closest to support 57. It is in thisposition that the black top track of the multicolored ribbon 13 iseffective when a key is depressed on the keyboard.

The wedges 54, 55 and 56 are provided with respective actuating rods 63,64 and 65. Each rod may be independently actuated by a respectiveelectromagnet 66, 67, 68 to draw the wedge controlled thereby forwardlyagainst the action of the spring 62 linked to this wedge. As soon assuch an action ceases, the wedge is returned by its spring into thenormal or rest position shown.

The forward movement of the wedge 59 will cause a certain upwardmovement of the member 52 and the ribbon carrier 53, resulting in achange of track from black to green. A similar movement of the wedge 60will cause a more substantial upward movement of the ribbon, for exampleby double the previous distance, and therefore there now occurs a shiftto the blue track of the ribbon. Actuation of the wedge 61 will in turncause a still greater upward movement, for instance by three trackwidths, thus causing printing through the red track. One should noticethat the mechanism as described does not exclude an upward movementsimultaneously controlled by two or even by three of the wedges. It isobvious, however, that it is the wedge having the greatest slope whichwill govern in such case the color of the letters typed. Each rod 63, 64and 65 is articulated to the plunger of its electromagnet 66, 67 or 68.This articulation is intended to afford sufficient play for the upwardrnormal positions shown.

' movement of support 57. The electromagnets 66, 67 and 68 have each oneterminal connected to a common battery 240. The leads 69, 70 and 71 from-the other terminals of the three electromagnets are individuallyconnected, Vas will be described, to an electro-mechanical controldevice-72, forming part of the mechanism 14 of Fig. 1, which is actuatedthrough four input terminals 73, 74, 75 and 76.

In this device, the terminal 73 is connected only to the lead 71 of theelectromagnet 68. Externally, the terminal '73 is multipled to all thewires 19 coming from the service keyboard, including those connected tothe specialized keys 70S, 706 and 707 thereof.

The device 72 is essentially constituted by -two relays 77 and 84. i

The relay 77 comprises a winding 78 and two Vassociated armatures 79 and80 reset by a spring 279. The armature 79 has two back contacts 82 and83. The armature 80 has a front contact 81 which is connected to ground.

One ofthe terminals of the winding 78 is connected on the one hand tothe input terminal 74 and on the other hand to the armature 80associated with the make contact 81; the other terminal of this windingis connected to a back contact of an armature 87 of relay 84. Contact 82is connected to lead 70 of the electromagnet 67, whereas contact 83 istied to terminal 75.

The relay 84 comprises a winding 86 whose aforementioned armature 87 isreset by a spring 287. One of the poles of the winding 86 is connectedthrough a battery to ground, the other pole being connected to the inputterminal 76.

The terminal '74 is connected to the wire 19 coming from small capitalskey 705 of the service keyboard 7 00. Terminal 75 is multipled to thewires 19 originating from all the collateral keys of keyboard 600.Terminal 76 is connected to the wires 19 of the large capitals key 706and of the lower case key 707 of the service keyboard 700.

The operation of the complete arrangement shownin Fig. 5 may now bedescribed as follows: v

In the rest position, the windings 78 `and 86 are not energized. Theelectromagnets 66, 67 and 68 are similarly unoperated. The wedges 59, 60and 61 are in their The member 52 is in its lowermost position, theribbon operating therefore on the black track.

The operator depresses any one of the keys of the main keyboard 500,Fig. 1. None of these keys being provided with an outgoing wire 19,typing proceeds in black as none of the terminals 73-76 is grounded atthis time.

Assume, now, that the operator -depresses `any one of the keys of theservice keyboard 700. Through terminal 73 and lead 71, the electromagnet68 is energized. The wedge 61 is attracted and the ribbon is brought toits uppermost position. The service sign will be impressed in red. Assoon as the depressed key is released, the electromagnet 68 no longerreceives current and the wedge 61 restores the ribbon to the black trackif neither of the two other wedges has been previously attracted. Itwill be apparent that, inasmuch as several wedges may be displacedconcurrently in the mechanism described, a shifting to the red track mayalso be made from a position of the ribbon carrier 52 corresponding toeither the green or the blue track.

The keys 705 to 707 of the service keyboard, besides acting on wedge 61as set forth above, will cause the additional effects describedhereinafter.

If the small capitals key 705 is actuated, terminal 74 is grounded sothat winding 78 and electromagnet 66 are energized in series in acircuit extending to battery 240 by way of break contact S5. The ribbonrises to the green track. As the winding 78 becomes energized, armature80 makes it contact 81 while armature 79 afs-raast leaves the contacts82 and 83. The closing of the contacts 80, S1 establishes a holdingcircuit for winding 78 and consequently also for el-:ctromagnet 66. Thewedge 59 will therefore remain in its forward position. Thus, after thesign small capitals will have been typed in red during the momentarydisplacement of wedge 61, all the following characters will be typed viathe green track of the ribbon.

If, however, either ofthe keys '706 (large capitals) or 707 (lower case)is depressed, the wedge 61 will again be temporarily actuated and thecorresponding sign be typed in red on the copy, on the one hand, but, onthe other hand, the winding 86 lwill concurrently be energized throughterminal 76 and therefore will disconnect the winding 78 at contact 85.The holding circuit for winding 78 and electromagnet 66 is thusinterrupted and the green-track position of ribbon carrier 52 will bedisestablished by the resetting of wedge 59. The ribbon, therefore,cornes back to the black track upon cessation of the impulse. If thecircuit had already been open lat contact 81, the `energization ofwinding 86 would have been without effect.

A depression of one of the collateral keys of the kei board 600 appliesa ground to terminal 75 of device 72 Ibut not to terminal 73, hence theelectrcmagnet 68 will remain de-energized and the ribbon is not moved tothe red track. Two situations are possible. If the winding 78 Vwaspreviously energized to lock the relay 77 operated, the circuit ofmagnet 67 is open at contact 83 connected to the input terminal 75. Thedepression of a collateral key remains thus without effect upon theribbon-control mechanism of Fig. 5. This is necessary because suchoperation can only be the result of an erroneous operation on thekeyboard assembly since, `in the present arrangement, a collateral keycannot be operatively depressed when the system is in the position smallcapitals. Such an operation would require the provision of a fifth coloron the ribbon, a modification which will be understood to come broadlywithin the scope of the invention. It will be seen therefore that theillustrated embodiment provides safeguards against false operation ofthe keyboards of the machine, as described above. With the relay 77unoperated, on the other hand, the depression of a collateral key islegitimate and, by grounding the terminal 75, closes the energizationcircuit of the electromagnet 67 through contacts 32 and 83 to cause thedisplacement of the ribbon to its blue position for the period duringwhich the collateral key is held actuated.

It will be understood that the three wedges 59', 60, 61 could also bereplaced by a single wedge having a sloping surface withoutdiscontinuities, the upward movement of the ribbon carrier 52 being thencontrolled by the extent of the horizontal displacement as determined bythe depressed key.

A specific embodiment of the coder 408, Fig. l, representedschematically in Fig. 6. The circuits there shown are generally similarto those well known in arithmetical computers. The wires 20 coming fromthe distributor 214 reach the coder 408 where they form rows of anorthogonal network whose columns are constituted by conductors 88individually connected to respective punchactuating electromagnets ofthe perforator 409. Let us consider a numerical perforating coder withseven elements, therefore seven electromagnets, designated from (1) to(7), and therefore seven columns 88 in each matrix shown. For the sakeof simplicity, there has been shown a reduced number of horizontalconductors 20 connected to respective keys identified in the ligure. Theiirst row represents the circuit of the spacing bar 501 of the keyboard500 (see also Fig. 7); any depression of this bar should, it is to beunderstood, invariably leave a mark on the recording tape. The twofollowing rows relate to signs carried by some of the keys 601, 602 ofthe collateral keyboard 600, the three next rows are asso- 10 ciatedwith keys 502, 503, 504 of the main keyboard 500, and the four lowermostrows deal with signs carried by `certain keys 704 and 707, 706, 705 ofthe service keyboard 700. The circuitry of the coder will be readilyapparent. Each numerical perforation code is defined by the distributionof the rectifying connections between a particular row and one or morecolumns, these connections being made in the well-known manner by meansof unidirectionally conducting elements 89 such as, for example, crystaldiodes.

Before giving an example of a seven-element code applicable to a systemlaccording to the invention, and while recalling that the number ofdigits is in no way limitative of the scope of the invention, we mayconsider Fig. 7 which represents in greater detail the keyboards 500,600 and 700.

It will be understood that these keyboards need not be individual units,as shown in Fig. l, but may in fact be subdivisions of an overallkeyboard (hereinafter referred to as the keyboard assembly) as indicatedby dot-dash lines in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 7, the keys of the auxiliary keyboards 600 and 700 are `showntied to respective keys of the main keyboard 500 by connecting linessymbolizing linkages whereby actuation of any of these auxiliary keyswill result in the printing of a particular character on the typewrittencopy, this character appearing in blue (as a capital letter `or a signin the shift position) for a collateral key and in red for a servicekey. If the corresponding key of the main keyboard 500 is depressed, thesame character is typed in black or, if the small capitals key 705 isoperative, in green. Thus, for example, the depression of the smallcapitals key 705 of the service keyboard will cause the printing in redon the typed copy of a capital P, while that of the italics key 701 willcause the impression in red of a capital K.

The main keyboard 500 is arranged in a way similar to that of the usualkeyboard of a typewriter. In the example shown, it comprisesnevertheless a few modifications.

-The numeral l is distinguished typographically from the lower-caseletter l which is ordinarily employed for representing it in typing. Thetypographie sign representing the numeral 1 is provided in thecapital-leter or shift position of the key which carries the sign in thelower-case or unshift position.

The sign representing the underscore -in typing, is not usually neededin typography where a variety of special characters are employed forsimilar purposes, usually the italic characters, hence this sign may besuppressed. At the end of the upper row of the main keyboard 500 thereis a dead key 505, i.e. one that does not cause the carriage of thetypewriter to advance during the printing of the character carriedthereon (grave accent and acute -accent).

The collateral keyboard 600 may comprise a varying number of keys. Byway of example, there have been shown in Fig. l certain keys such as:

A key 603 for recording an end-of-line hyphen, which corresponds on thetypewritten copy (except for its blue coloring) to the sign normalhyphen of the key 506 with which key 603 is linked as shown; actuationof key 603 in lieu of key 506, however, produces a different perforatedcode or, preferably, the absence of any code since the computing part ofthe equipment which will scan the recording should not take any noticeof the separations of words at the ends of the type lines. On the otherhand, the typing of a hyphen by key 506 produces the normal perforatedcode on the tape.

A minus-sign key 604 for which the typographie sign is different fromthe hyphen; this key will produce a distinct code on the tape whileproducing .also a normal hyphen (in blue color) on the typewritten copy,being linked with key 506 as illustrated.

i typographically distinct from the lower-case x;

Keys 605, 606 for modified open and closed quotation marks, as used inFrench texts, which are typographically distinctV and are distinguishedby diiferent codes. These keys are interconnected with the key 507bearing the normal quotation marks of the typewriter so that the twotypes of marks will not be distinguished on the type copy except fortheir blue color if produced by the key 605 or 606.

The key 602, bearing the sign cedilla, which is linked with a key 508 ofthe keyboard 500 bearing the circumex accent in the correspondingposition. Thus, the typing of the cedilla will cause the perforation ofa special code on the tape and the printing (in blue) of a circumexaccent on the typewritten copy.

A key `607, bearing the multiplication sign which is key 607 is linkedwith the x key 509 of the main keyboard 500.

The key 601, allotted to the numeral zero which is typographicallydistinct from the capital letter this key, linked with the O key 510 ofkeyboard 500, produces a distinct code on the tape while printing acapital O in blue on the typewritten copy.

A key 610 bearing two and three dots in the shift and unshift positions,respectively. lThis key is conneoted for typing purposes to the key 511bearing a period and a semicolon in the corresponding positions whileproducing distinct electric perforation codes.

The list given above is not exhaustive but merely indicates thepossibilities inherent in the provision of collateral keys in additionto those of the main keyboard.

Reference is now made to two pairs of collateral keys 608, 608 (emspace) and 609, `609 (half-em space) likewise shown in Fig. 7.

These keys serve to introduce fixed spaces or blanks The keys 608, 609are linked for typing purposes to keys of the main keyboard, forinstance to keys 512 (M) and 513 (L), respectively, in theircapital-letter positions. This enables the operator, when necessary, toverify on the typed copy that an ern space or a half-em space has beeninserted without utilization of the spacing bar 501. The other twokeys608', 609 produce the same perforation codes as their unprimedcounterparts but are connected, for typing, to the spacing bar 501 sothat no visible mark will be found typed on the copy if the operatorconsiders this more convenient.

We may now broadly sum up as follows the main characteristics and theoperation of the complete keyboard assembly:

Normally, actuation of any key of keyboard 500 (including spacing bar501 but excepting the accent keys 505, 508) and of the spacing keys 608,609 and 608', 609 will cause an advance of the carriage by one step. Allthe keys 502 etc. of the main keyboard cause the typing to appear inblack for the lower case and large capitals positions, and in green forthe position small capitals; the typing is direct, that it to say thecharacter bar associated with the depressed key is actuated as inconventional typewriters. The operation of the spacing bar 501 does notcause any impression.

Operation of any collateral key causes the typing to be in blue; as thekeys 608', 609 connected with the spacing bar do not cause any printing,their actuation results only in a one-step advance of 'the carriage.Each printing due to actuation of a collateral key appears as acharacter of the connected key of the main keyboard. It may be notedthat, in the embodiment described, the small capitals positions are notutilized for the collateral keys, but this is not an inherent limitationof the system. Any principal key or collateral key causes the recordingon the tape or other medium of a code which is allotted thereto; this isalso true for the blank keys 608, 608', 609, 609 and for the spacing bar501. -The code of the spacing bar represents variable (justifying)spaces Whereas those of the blank keys correspond to fixed (nonjustifying) spaces.

Theservice keyboard 700 on the left-handside of Fig. 7 is shownsubdivided, by way of example, into the following groups of keys:

A group of counting keys designated 720 to 729, bearing the numerals 0to 9, designed to enable the operator to indicate the number of a typedline which will have to be corrected later on.

A group of selector keys which includes the previously described keys705 (small capitals), 706 (large capitals) and 707 (lower case) alongwith three keys 701, 702, 703 bearing the markings l, 2 and 3 indicatingdifferent fonts; three keys 704 (italic), 708 (roman") and 709 (boldface); and three keys 710 (norma 711 (upper) and 712 (lower),identifying the different type positions.

' A group of announcing keys, serving to indicate, for example,impending changes in type (key 730), height of page (key 731),justification (key 732), or line spacing (key 733), as we ll asbeginning (key 734) andend (key 735) of space for cut,word-division-test (key 736), end of paragraph (key 737), end of chapter(key 738), and end of work (key '739). Y

The carriage-return key 314 of Fig. l has also been shown in Fig. 7 butdoes not properly form part of any of the three keyboards 500, 600 and700.

Each key of the service keyboard 700 is linked with a respective keyofthe main keyboard 500. The character printed on the typewritten copyupon the actuation of any service key will therefore be the character ofthe associated principal key but will appear in red. Any such actuationwill consequently cause the advance of the carriage 'by one step. yItwill also effect the recording of a distinct code on the tape 410.Except for the three special keys 705, 706 and 707, whose operation hasbeen described in detail above, the depression of any key of the servicekeyboard will cause automatically the typing of a capital letter (orother symbol in the shift position), as previously noted, without thenecessity of 4holding the key 706 in its actuated position.

The service signals generated by the keys 720 to 729, serving to numberthe typewritten lines, are reproduced on the 'copy `as regulartypewritten digits and are also perforated automatically on the tape ina way that will be described later on in conjunction with Fig. 9.

`From an examination of the keyboard assembly and of its operationpreviously described, it appears that not all keys of the keyboard areactually equipped with the four connections shown in Fig. 2 for astandard key. By referring to the distributor 214 shown with itselectric connections in Fig. 8, the extent of which has been limited forthe sake of clarity but which shows all the typical cases occurring inthe distributor, it will be seen that:

Each one of the principal keys 501 (spacing bar) to 510, the collateralkeys 601 to 603 and the service keys 701 to 703 and 705 to 706,indicated in the figure by way of example, has an individual connection20 extending towards the coder 408 (cf. Fig. 6).

Each one of the illustrated keys is also provided with an individualconnection 17 extending towards the bars 37 (cf. Fig. 3) whichconstitute the type-face assembly 401, certain of these connectionsbeing multipled, as shown, in the manner and for the purposes previouslydescribed.

Each one of the collateral keys 601603 is also provided with aconnection 19 extending towards the ribboncontrol mechanism 14 (cf. Fig.5), ending at the terminal of this mechanism.

Each one of the keys of the service keyboard 700, including the keys705, 706 and 7,07, has a similar connection 19 extending towardsterminal 73 of the ribboncontrol mechanism 14; the key 705 has anadditional connection 19 leading towards terminal 74 of this mechanism,whereas the keys 706 and 707 have similar addi- 13 tional -connectionsending atterminal 76 of the same mechanism.

The keys 701-703 have moreover connections 18 leading to terminal 41 ofthe shift mechanism 12 (cf. Fig. 4) whereas terminal 42 of the samemechanism is provided with a similar connection 18a coming from key'707; finally, terminal 43 of this mechanism is tied to correspondingconnections 18h and 18C respectively extending from keys 705 and 706.

Rectiiers 219 inserted in the above-mentioned connections =prevent thereturn ilow of control currents between the `circuits shown in Fig. 8.

The seven-element codes applicable tothe embodiment of 'the inventionherein disclosed may be dened as binary codes consisting only of thedigits zero and one. The following Tables A, B `and C are illustrativeof a typical code system of this description, the reference numerals ofkeys previously referred to being indicated `in parentheses on theleft-hand side of these tables; Table D represents similar codes emittedby the numbering line counter 111 (cf. Fig. 9).

TABLE A Main keyboard 500 Elements of the code Keys (501) Spacing-barTABLE B Collateral keyboard 600 Elements of the code Keys zero half-emspace cedilla "em space; en d-of-line hyphen minus sign (6 5) openparenthesis closed parenthesis 1 multiplication sign two dots/threedotsm.

TABLE C Service keyboard 700 Elements of the code Keys (720) 0 1 0 0 0 00 0 (721) l 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 (722) 2 1 0 0 0 0 l 0 (723) 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 1(724) 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 (725) 5 1 0 0 0 l 0 1 (726) 6 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 (727)7 1 0 0 0 l 1 1 (728) 8 1 0 0 1 0 O 0 (729) 9 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 (710) Normal1 0 l 0 0 0 0 (712) Lower 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 (711) Upper 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 (708)Roman 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 (704) Italia 1 o 1 0 1 o 1 (709) Bold-face 1 0 1 0 11 0 (707) Lower case 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 (706) Large capitals 1 0 1 1 0 0 1(705) Small capitals 1 0 1 1 0 i 0 (701) 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 (702) 2 1 0 1 11 0 1 (703) 3 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 (730) Change in type 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 (731)Change in height of page `1 l O 0 0 0 1 (732) Change in justification 11 0 0 0 1 1 `(733) Change in line spacing 1 l 0 0 0 1 0 (734) Beginningof space for cut 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 (735) End of space for cut 1 1 0 0 1 0 1(736) Word-division-test l l 0 0 1 1 0 (737) End of paragraph 1 1 0 1 00 0 (738) End 0f chapter l 1 0 1 0 0 1 (739) End of Work 1 1 0 1 0 l 0TABLE D Line counter 11 Elements of the code Keys Digit 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0Digit 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 Digit 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 Digit 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 1Numbering of lines Digit 4 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 Digit; 5 1 1 1 0 l 0 1 Digit 6l l 1 1 0 l 1 0 Digit; 7 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 Digit 8 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 Digit 9 1 11 1 0 0 1 The above code system may, of course, be extended at will toaccommodate more complex modiiications of service keyboard 700 and ofthe collateral. keyboard 600.

The numbering line counter 11 may by Way of illustration be constructedin the manner schematically shown in Fig. 9. In this figure, there hasbeen indicated a mechanical numbering device of conventional type, e.g.as utilized for consecutively numbering printed forms and the like. Themeter 90 comprises tive Wheels 91, 92, 93, 94, correspondingrespectively to units, tens, hundreds, thousands and tens of thousands.The Wheels 91 to 95 follow one another from right to left. The internalmechanism of the numbering device need not be described here in `detailsince it is well known per se. It will be understood that for each unitthe wheel 91 accomplishes a tenth of a revolution. After a completerevolution, it causes the advance of the wheel 92 for the tens by atenth of a turn and so on. The numbering device 90 is carried on a shaft96, mounted on a supporting arm 97 located adjacent the Wheel 95.

On the side remote from arm 97, a second shaft 98 is positionedcoaxially with shaft 96 but is independent of the latter. The shaft 98serves to control the count ing movement by means of a key 99 whichextends longitudinally on the shaft 93 and slides with it in a ratchet100. This ratchet is carried on a support 101 and cooperates With a pawl107 by which it is unidirectionally 15 rotatable as indicated by thearrow. Units Wheel 91 is engaged by the key 99 so as to rotate withshaft 98.

Unlike the gears of conventional counters, the wheels 91-95 of thedevice 90 do not have engraved faces. They are provided on theirperipheries with insulating coatings or inlays each extending overnine-tenths of a cylindrical surface, thus leaving free on each Wheel aconductive sector 102 equal to one tenth of its circumference. Thesemetallic sectors are insulated from ground for instance by being partlysurrounded by a nonconductive substance as indicated at 102. The digitrepresented by any of the wheels is characterized by the angularposition of its conductive sector 102.

The assembly 90, consisting of the elements 91 to 98, constitutes a unitcapable of executing a horizontal translatory movement by sliding alonga guide shaft 103. Additional guide means, not shown, oppose rotation ofthis unit about the shaft 103.

The shaft 103 is rotatably journaled in its bearings (not shown) and itsrotary movement is controlled by a peg 104 which projects inwardly fromarm 97 toward shaft 103 and slides in a groove 105 of that shaft. Thisgroove has a helicoidal bend 105 while being otherwise rectilinear. Theright-hand extremity of shaft 103 is formed with a lug 103' whichengages a rod 106 controlling, in turn, the pawl 107 associated with theratchet 100.

On the top portion of arm member 97 there is mounted `a rod 108 providedwith two lingers 109 (on the lefthand side) and 110 (on the right-handside). The distance between these lingers is equal to the maximumdisplacement of arm 97. The two lingers 109, 110 alternately engage alever 112 to operate a circuit breaker 111 which always remains in theposition in which it has last been set. Thus, when the arm 97 reachesthe end of its leftward displacement, the finger 110 operates and thecircuit breaker 111 remains open until the end of the displacement ofthe arm to the right when, by the action of the linger 109 on the lever112, the circuit breaker'111 is again closed. It remains so until thearm- 97 returns into its left-hand end position, and so on.

The arm 97 carries at the top a grounded boss or protuberance 113.During the horizontal movement of arm 97, boss 113 passes under a row oflive contacts 114 to 118. The spacing between these aligned contacts isthe same as that between the Wheels 91 to 95 of the counting device 90.

The four contacts 114, 115, 116 and 117 are electrically connected toone another and to one of thepoles of the circuit `breaker 111. Thecontact 118 on the extreme right is insulated from the four othercontacts and connected both to the other pole of the Vcircuit breaker111 and to a lead 119.

A ring 120, fixedly secured to the frame (not shown) of the counter 90,is centered on the shaft 98 but does not make contact therewith. Itscircular opening has a diameter corresponding to that of the sectors 102of the live wheels 91-95. The ring 120 comprises ten contact segments121 which are regularly spaced along its inner periphery and areinsulated from one another and from ground. Each one of these segmentsis connected to a respective wire 211 leading to the distributor 214. Onthe right of the ring 120 there is located with slight spacing a secondring 123 of the same dimension and shape, entirely conductive on itsinner periphery but insulated from ground and connected to the lead 119.

Secured to the right-hand extremity of the shaftr98 is a lug 124insulated from ground.

Positioned -coaxially with shaft 98 and to the right thereof is a ring125 followed by another ring 126,. Both rings are conductive but thering 125 is insulated from ground whereas the ring 126 is grounded. Theyare normally held apart by an interposed spring (not shown) insulatinglyengaging these rings, but Aconductive contact may be establishedtherebetween in response to athrust actingfrom the left upon the ring125 which v Vthe right, thereby establishing contact between rings 125and 12'6.

Further to the right beyond ring 126 there is loc ted a liXed stop 128.When the lug 124, having'passed through slots 127, comes into contactwith this fixed stop, the boss 113 is exactly under contact 118 and thewheel bridges the two rings 120 and 123.

The assembly 90 is normally retracted by a spring 402 into its eXtremeleft-hand position in which its wheels 91-95 are completely disengagedfrom the rings 120 and 123. The boss 113 is then on the left Vof contact114, as shown in Fig. 9, while the nger contacts the lever 112 to causethe opening of circuit break- The elfective width of each wheel 91-95,corresponding to the distance between successive operative positions ofthe unit 90 in which respective wheels 91-95 bridge the two rings and123, is equal to the width of a character of the typewritten text or,more precisely to the distance traversed by the typewriter carriage 201between successive key actuations. With the unit 90 still in itsretracted position, the carriage 201 near the end of Vits returnmovement strikes the arm 97 with which it is operatively aligned, asshown.

The operation of the assembly 11 for counting and numbering thev linesmaynow be described as follows:

The typing of a line will, in the conventional manner, cause themovement of the carriage 201 towards the left. As long as the line isbeing typed, no action takes place in the system of the numbering linecounter 11 shown in Fig. 9.

When, thereafter, the operator actuates the key 314 to effect the returnof the carriage, the latter jumpsf back towards the right. In so movingit encounters the arm 97 so as to entrain it, in the last phase of itsown motion, along the shaft 103. The linger 110 leaves lever 1112 butcircuit breaker 1111 remains open. As soon as the unit 90 has started tomove, the peg 104 exerts a camming action on the helicoidal bend 1057,'of groove 105 and causes the shaft 103 to be rotated slightly, thusretracting movement of the pawl 107 which falls into the next notch ofratchet 100. Pawl 107 remains in this position during the entiremovement of the assembly 90 to the right-hand end of its stroke whose`length is determined by the engagement of lug 124 with 'either ring orstop A128. Upon the subsequent; lef'tward motion of carriage 201 andcounter assembly 90, the peg 104 will once more co-act with the bend.105 of groove 105 to return the shaft 103 to its original angularposition, thereby causing the pawl 107 to rotate the ratchet 100 and,with it, the shaft 98 and the units wheel 91 through one-tenth ofarevolution.

llt should be noted that the contacts 114- 1117,wil1 remain unconnecteduntil the assembly 90 has reached the right-hand end of its maximumstroke, a position in which contact 118 is engaged by boss 1.13; thisprevents the transmission `of more than one pulse by any of the.contacts 114-117, each of which is engaged twice by the boss 113 in thecourse of a maximum-stroke reciprocation of the counter assembly. I

The ten output leads 211 of the counter 11 are so connected within thedistributor 214 to the character bar-controlling wires 17 of thenumerical keys (e.g'. 506,507, 510) of the main keyboard 500 as to causethe printing of the corresponding digits on the ,typewritnerves? 17 tencopy, as illustrated `at A301 in Fig. 1,in the same manner as if thesenumerical keys themselves lhad been opei ated. At the same time thecorresponding perforation codes as given in Table"D will lbe recorded onthe tape.

At the .beginning of operations, the first `line will be identified bythe single digit V1. `At 'this time 'the .wheels 92-95 of unit 90 are intheir "0 positions whereas units wheel 91 is in its r1 position. Whenthe operator depresses the carriage-return key 314 .for the first time,.preparatorily to typing the v'iirst line of the message, the lug 124will be out -o`f 'line with the `slots 127 and will press the ring '125against the ring 126 to -establish conductive contact between ,the tworings, at `thesame time arresting the n'ghtward movement o'f'unit :90@in a position in which the units ,wheel T91 4registers with the rings120 and 123. VCiround from lead 119 is Anow extended via the bridgingsegment of wheel 91 to the l segment of ring 121 and from it `to .thecorresponding l wire 211 leading to distributor 214, thus `causing theappearance of .this digit .on the typewritten copy and the perforationof the tape with the corresponding code. As the carriage `2'01 'advancestoward 1-t`he left in the courseof a normal typing operation, .theassembly 90 .-reoccupies its normal .position .and .its units wheel 91performs one-.tenth .of a revolution, -as `previously described, to moveinto its 2 position. ",'Ilhe ,same cycle is repeated upon each of thefollowing eight carriage returns, the units `wheel 91 .movingprogressively to .its

positions 3 through 0.

On reaching the position T0, .units wheel .9.1 `advances the tens `wheel92 by one `digit inthe .conventional manner; at .the same `time the .lugi124 .has come to restin alignment with .the slots 127 of rlings 25 and.126.

On the next carriage-return movement, the flug 124 thus clear the rings125, .126 .and will .strike `the stop 128 in a position of assembly 90in which .the tens-of-thousands wheel 95 registers with .the rings l1120`and 123. Ground .from `boss .113 is now .applied via contact 118 yandlead I1-19 to ring `123 and, .through segment 1,02 of wheel .95., .to.the f ,segment :121 of ring 120 and the corresponding :wire 211. .Atthe same time the dinger 109 closes the circuit breaker `v1.11, this4being however without immediate effect. ,As the character bar bearingnumeral 0 is :actuated to print that digit, the carriage 201 advancesone V4step to-the left in -the usual manner whereby, `under the `actionof spring 402, the unit 90 is enabled `to move leftward nby a likedistance so that the thousands wheel ,94 now -registers with the rings120 and 123. Witheontact 116 nowconnected to lead `1-19, boss 113 again`grounds the .ring 123 and causes another impulse to be applied to 0 via211. In like manner a further "0 is printed and perforated in the nextposition of counter unit 90 in which the hundreds wheel 93 isoperatively aligned with rings -120 and 123. Upon the next leftward"step, dens wheel 92-causes the recording of digit 1, while finally'another 0 produced under the control of units wheelf-91 as boss 113grounds the contact 114. Thus, the full five-digit number 00010 isrecorded at this time to indicate the tenth line of the typewrittentext.

It will be apparent that the next nine operations of the counter 11 willagain result in the recording of only the iiual digits 1-9, but that inthe tenth cycle the second decade will again be registered as ative-digit number. .This mode of numbering has been illustrated in Fig.1, starting with line number 23630.

Reference will now be made to l-iig. 10 showing schematically amodification of the system of Fig. 5, designed to indicate the alteredsignificance of a capital letter or other symbol by an interruptedoutline rather than by a change in color as previously described. Alever 801 bears a grid `802 which, under the action of an electromagnet803 representative of, for example,

magnet 66 of Fig. 5, can be interposed between the copy sheet 804 ontypewriter carriage '201 and the ribb on 1805 which, Ain this case, needonly be of `a single color. When the character vbar 37 strikes theribbon 305 vto print a -symbol, the presence of masking grid 802 causesthe character to be typed in broken rather vthan solid outline asrespectively indicated Aat 806 and 807.

'I'he invention is `not limited to the embodiments -de scribed 'asit iscapable of many modifications Fand adaptations which will be apparent tothose skilled in the What is claimed is:

1. In a message-recording system, in combination, fa set of irst keys, aset of second keys, a plurality fof symbol-bearing members eachactuatable 1by one of said rst `keys and by one of said second keys Aforproducing a mark on a blank, characterization 'means selectivelycontrolled Vby said keys for distinctively l'varying the appearance of*said =mark Adepending on whether `said members are actuated byoperation of a iirst or la jsecond key, -and mechanism for registeringon la `recording medium a coded entry individually identifying theoperated key.

2. IIn `a message-recording system, 4in combination, a rst key, a secondkey, a type bar actuatable :by operation of yeither of said keys forproducing `a mark on a blank, characterization means selectivelycontrolled vby said keys for Ydistinctively varying the `appearance ofsaid mark in accordance with Vthe operated key, and `coder meanscontrolled Aby said keys for `making an entry, jidentifying theoperatefdkey, on a recording medium,

3.111 a `message-recording system, in combination, ia iirst key, a`second key, a type bar actuatable by 'operation of either V,of saidkeys Afor producing a mark `o n 'a blank, ja holder for said blank,coloring 'means interposable between said type bar and said blank forrendering visible 'the mark produced by said type `ibar, 'control meansfor altering the position 'o'f' said coloring means `in a mannerdistinctively `varying `the appearance of said mark in accordance withthe 'operated key, and coder means controlled by said keys for making anentry, identifying the" operated key, `on a `recording medium.

-4. The combination according to claim .3, wherein'said coloring meanscomprises an ink `ribbon having a plurality of differently colored zonesselectively positionble in operative alignments with said type bar..

5. The combination accordingfto claim I3,wherein said coloring meanscomprises an ink ribbon and a partial mask selectively interposablebetween "said type kbar and said holder along with said ribbon.

6. The combination accordingto claim 3, wherein said type bar isprovided with an electrical actuating device and wherein each of saidkeys `comprises a movable arm, resilient means tending to maintain said:arm nin 'an unoperated position, a spring contact adapted to be`resiliently depressed by said arm in auoperated position, and a set -ofconductors extending in parallel vfrom said spring contact toward saidcoder `means and said actuatingjdevice. p

7. Thecombination according to claim 3, wherein "said type bar isprovided with an electrical actuating device including a swingablecontrol member operatively coupled with said type bar, drive meansadapted to impart an oscillatory motion to said control member, abutmentmeans normally maintaining said control member out of engagement withsaid drive means, and electromagnetic means controlled by said keys forretracting said abutment means.

8. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said abutment means isa crescent-shaped lever.

9. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said coloring meanscomprises an ink ribbon having a plurailty of superposed tracks ofdifferent colors, said control means including suspension means for saidribbon and wedgeshaped supporting means for said suspension meansadapted to vary the eleva-tion of the latter.

19 1,0. In a system for recording information to control an automaticcomposing machine, in combination, a typewriter carriage provided with ablank-holding roller, a set of type bars adapted to print a variety ofsymbols on a blank carried by said roller, a keyboard having keys forthe selective actuation of said type bars, mechanism for horizontallyadvancing said carriage in response to the operation of any of saidkeys, line-feeding means for restoring said carriage to a startingposition and turning said roller after the completion of a line, codermeans controlled by said keys for entering on a recording medium anidentification of each operated key, and counter means controlled bysaid carriage for transmitting to said coder means a line-numbering codeduring each horizontal traverse of said carriage.

11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein said countercomprises contact means positioned for actuation `by said roller in anextreme position of said carriage. l

V,12. The combination according to claim 10, wherein said carriage isprovided with a numbering device having means for selectively actuatingcertain of said type bars in a manner producing a line-numberingindication on said blank.

. 13. AA system for recording information to control an automaticcomposing machine, comprising a keyboard provided with av set ofprincipal keys and a set of service keys, a set of type bars selectivelyactuatable by respective ones of said keys, at least some of said typebars being actuatable in identical fashion by the operation of both aprincipal key and a service key in the alternative,` a typewritercarriage having blank-holding means, coloring means having differentportions selectively positionable under the control of said keys inoperative alignment with said type bars for enabling the latter Vtoproduce, on a blank held by said carriage, visible marks identified bytheir appearance as having been caused by the operation of either aprincipal key or a service key, and coder means controlled by said keysfor registering on a recording medium successive entries individuallyidentifying the operated keys.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said coloring means has atleast three distinct operating positions, said service keys includingarst selector key, operable to move said coloring means into `a rstposition during the actuation of its associated type bar Vand thereafterto maintain said coloring means in a second position, `and a secondselector key, operable to move said coloring means into said rstposition during the actuation of its associated type bar and thereafter`to maintain said coloring means in a third position, wherebyv furtherdifferentiation in the marks produced by subsequently actuated type barsis obtained. 2.15. A system according to claim 13, wherein said coloringmeans is an ink ribbon provided with at least three differently colored,parallel tracks including a first and a second track for said principalkeys and a third track for said service keys, said service keysincluding aiirst selector key, operable to move said ribbon `intooperative positioning of said third track during the actuation of itsassociated type bar and thereafter tomaintain said ribbon in operativeposition of said rst track, and a second selector key, operable to `movesaid ribbon into operative positioning of said third track duringactuation of its associated type bar andthereafter to maintain saidribbon in operativeposition of its second track, whereby furtherdifferentiation in the marks produced by the subsequent Voperation ofprincipal keys is obtained. Y

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein each of said type bars isprovided with a lower and an upper type face, further comprising shiftmeans for rendering,

either of said type faces operative by varying the relative alignmentbetween said holder and said type bars, said service keys including athird selector .key arranged to operate said ribbon in the same manneras said first selector key, said rst and third selector keys .beingconnected to said shift means for locking said holder and said type barsin shifted and in unshifted position,

respectively. l y

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein said third selector key isprovided withv means for controlling said shift means to place saidholder and said type bars momentarily in shifted position, duringactuation of the type bar associated with said third selector key, priorto locking them in unshifted position.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein said keyboard is furtherprovided with at least one collateral key connected to actuate one ofsaid type bars, said ribbon having a fourth track operativelypositionable upon the operation of said collateral key.

19. A system according to claim 18, further comprising lockout meanscontrolled by said selector keys for blocking said collateral key afterthe operation of said second selector keys and for unblocking saidcollateral key after the operation of either of the other selector keys.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein said ribbon is provided withmeans for returning it to operaytive position of its iirst trackfollowing the actuation of the type bar associated with said collateralkey.

21. A system according to claim 18, wherein said keyboard furtherincludes a special key operable to ad- 'vance said carriage withoutactuation of any type bar and to transmit to said coder means a signalfor registering a spacing code on said recording medium, said collateralkey being operable to transmit to said coder means a like signal for theregistration of a spacing code concurrently with the actuation of itsassociated type bar.

Z2. A system according to claimv 13, wherein said coder means includes atape perforator.

References Cited in the Ele of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 940,709McFarland V.. 1. Nov. 23, 1909 2,747,718 May May 29, 1956 2,762,485Bafour et al V Sept. 11, 1956

